More Wodonga Cup success for McPhee family

Prominent owners John and Helen McPhee have added another Wodonga Gold Cup to their collection with outsider Morning Darling winning the $100,000 race.

The McPhees and trainer Sylvia Thompson were set to have two starters but were left with Morning Darling as their only runner after Jugiong was scratched at the barrier.

Amid the post-race celebrations, they were unaware Jugiong was a non-runner.

In a boilover, Morning Darling took a split in the straight to beat Hiyaam Proud after a perfectly executed ride from Brendan Ward.

The McPhees have now owned seven Wodonga Cup winners.

Winning jockey Brendan Ward, who served his apprenticeship at Wodonga, claimed his second win in the race – 18 years after his first.

“I’ve had a great relationship with the McPhees over the years, especially since I was kind of a 17-year-old kid. It’s good to team up again,” Ward said.